Susan Ashbrook Harvey, a foremost scholar in Late Antiquity, discusses fragrance in ancient Christianity and the importance of women's voices in Syriac liturgical singing. The podcast explores the transformative power of art and music, fragrance as a spiritual experience, and the significance of women's choirs in the Syriac tradition.
The arts engage multiple senses, including the sense of smell, and impact our understanding and appreciation of artistic expressions.
Susan Ashbrook Harvey's study on fragrance in ancient Christianity reveals the paradox of negative rhetoric towards the body, while emphasizing the significance of fragrances in religious practices.
Deep dives
The significance of sensory experiences in the arts
The podcast episode discusses the sensory nature of the arts, emphasizing that they are not limited to visual and auditory experiences. It highlights the importance of the sense of smell in the arts and mentions Susan Ashbrook Harvey's academic work on fragrance and the olfactory system. The conversation explores how the arts engage multiple senses and the impact of sensory experiences on our understanding and appreciation of artistic expressions.
The role of fragrance in ancient Christianity
Susan Ashbrook Harvey's work on fragrance in ancient Christianity is discussed in this podcast. Her groundbreaking study, 'Senting Salvation, Ancient Christianity and the Olfactory Imagination', is mentioned. The conversation delves into the paradox of the negative rhetoric towards the body in ascetic texts, while simultaneously emphasizing the use and significance of fragrances, incense, and holy oil in religious practices. The prevalence of sensory aspects, particularly smell, in ancient Christian literature is highlighted, revealing how smells were used for healing, as sensory experiences in the liturgy, and as a means to connect with the divine.
Women's choirs in Syriac Christianity
The podcast explores the presence of women's choirs in Syriac Christianity. Susan Ashbrook Harvey's research on the topic is discussed, emphasizing the authoritative role of these choirs in teaching and the importance of their voices in the liturgy. The conversation touches on the functional and dispositional impact of singing in the liturgy, including the use of melody for memory and the ordered and transformative power of singing. It also delves into the theological significance of singing, exploring how it brings order and understanding to the worshipping community and the connection of singing to the creation narrative.
The holistic nature of liturgy
The podcast episode highlights the holistic nature of liturgy and its importance in engaging all the senses. It discusses the role of liturgical music, including the use of chanting and congregational singing, in ordering the self and the community. The conversation emphasizes the teaching and transformative functions of singing in the liturgy and the importance of hearing every voice, including the voices of women, as a part of the collective worship experience. The significance of liturgy as a mosaic of different authorities is also highlighted, challenging the spotlight often placed solely on the priest or bishop.
Susan Ashbrook Harvey is one of the foremost scholars in her field of Late Antiquity (with a focus on Syriac Christianity). Two of her particular areas of interest and expertise make her an especially fascinating guest on Luminous. One is her study of fragrance (her book Scenting Salvation: Ancient Christianity and the Olfactory Imagination is a classic), and the other is women’s voices in Syriac liturgical singing.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode